Duterte mum on Leni issue but tells opposition to ‘wait for your time’

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte KING RODRIGUEZ/Presidential Photo

MANILA — President Duterte kept mum on Vice President Leni Robredo’s departure from the Cabinet as he led the traditional lighting of a 12-foot Christmas tree in Malacañang on Monday night.

Mr. Duterte did not mention Robredo’s resignation as chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council throughout his 21-minute speech, which he had to cut short due to a light drizzle.

Without identifying any particular group, he said the “opposition” should “just wait for your time” as his administration has been busy addressing the country’s pressing problems.

“To the opposition, just wait for your time. Anyway … You’ve had your days,” Mr. Duterte said.

As in his previous speeches, the President explained his controversial approach to ending the illegal drug trade and weeding out corruption in the bureaucracy.

“I plead for the unity of the country that we shall be freed from menial work… I plead for peace so that citizens can move around anytime of the day. And I ask everybody in government that together we will stop corruption,” he said.

On Sunday, Robredo announced that she had opted to quit her post as housing czar after the President instructed Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco Jr. to tell her that she should “desist” from attending the Cabinet meetings.

Evasco, who was named by the Chief Executive to replace Robredo as HUDCC chair, cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason why Mr. Duterte wanted her out of his Cabinet.  SFM